Discussion Question #2

Since the 1960’s early childhood educators have learned about Piaget’s theory of children’s cognitive development, and have been able to recite the four stages of development: sensoriomotor, preoperational, operational, and formal operations. As discussed in your textbook, children in the preoperational stage of development have egocentric perspectives, demonstrate transductive reasoning, and are unable to conserve number, mass, and liquids. Piaget also said that thought precedes language.

Piaget formulated these theories through observation, interviews with children, and using simple experiences that are now referred to as “Piagetian tasks.” Were all of Piaget’s conclusions correct? What evidence supports and which evidence contradicts Piaget’s characterizations of the three-year-old preoperational child? And was Piaget’s concept of cognition accurate in light of Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences and Vygotsky’s ideas about the function of language?

Answer the question, was Piaget right? Remember to back up your conclusions with evidence from your readings.